Are the Nuggets Frustrated With Carmelo Anthony?

Tensions in Denver’s locker room are reportedly rising, with teammates and coaches growing frustrated with Carmelo’s style of play and attitude of late. Yahoo! reports: “Several sources describe a locker room frustrated with Anthony chasing shots and points over winning games, a resistance to listen to coach George Karl and a distancing of himself throughout the season from the rest of the team. For these reasons – and a fear of losing him for nothing in free agency – few are buying the bluff of the Nuggets believing they can still convince him to sign a three-year, $65 million contract extension. ‘With the way he’s distanced himself from the team, the organization, they’re kidding themselves if they think he’s signing a new deal,’ one league source [said]. ‘He hasn’t checked out on the season because he never checked in.’ The Nuggets are working on a contract extension for Karl, and no one close to him believes he can muster much enthusiasm to keep coaching Anthony. Karl has played along with the company line on wanting to re-sign Anthony, but sources said he’s far more at peace with coaching a rebuilding roster than this mix of Nuggets. Karl has struggled coaching Anthony with the loss of top assistant, Tim Grgurich, who left the franchise before the season’s start.”